Community Calendar

The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@cortezjournal.com. Items submitted at least two weeks in advance will have a better chance of getting published; items submitted several days before the event might not get published. For more information, call the Journal at 565-8527.

The Children's Kiva Annual Peace Walk

The Children's Kiva Montessori School invites all to join us for a peaceful walk around our local park, Parque de Vida to honor the life work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek but a means by which we arrive at that goal" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Please join us Thursday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. under the Parque de Vida Pavilion. We will walk around the park one time and gather in the front yard of The Children's Kiva for a moment of silence. Dr. Maria Montessori believed in the power of the child to make the world a better place. Through the child, the prospect of world peace is possible with education providing the pathway. For more information, please call 565-8586.

Dolores Chamber's Business After Hours

The Dolores Chamber invites the public to their first Business after Hours of 2013 on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. This will be a wonderful opportunity to have some great food and refreshments, network and develop working relationships with many businesses and individuals you may not usually have the opportunity to connect with. Everybody is invited - you do not have to be a chamber member to attend. For more information, contact the Dolores Chamber at 882-4018.

Free information session on radon gas

January is Radon Awareness Month, and Colorado State University Extension will present a free information session on radon. The class will be held on Friday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Montezuma County Extension Office, 109 W. Main St., Room 102. You will learn what radon is, why we should care about it, and what to do with the information after you test your home. Due to the nature of the soil in this area, our homes are at higher risk to have elevated radon. If the radon level in your home is greater than 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends mitigation. Radon is the number two cause of lung cancer (behind smoking and ahead of secondhand smoke). Please call ahead to make your reservation at 565-3123.

Lunch fundraiser for Cultural Center

Join the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market on Friday, Jan. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Baked Potato Bar. Lunch for $5 includes a potato with all types of toppings and a beverage. Enjoying eating in the gallery surrounded by art or take out is also available. Advance tickets are available at the center Jan. 9. For more details, contact the center at 565-1151.

Nutrition and Weight Loss lecture

Jill Schenk, MD, will give a free lecture on nutrition and weight loss on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the conference room at Southwest Memorial Physicians, 20 S. Market St. in Cortez. Topics will include how to lose weight and keep it off, nutrition tips, how to stick to an exercise program, and an update on new FDA-approved weight loss medications. No RSVP is necessary and light refreshments will be served. Call 565-4291 for more information.

'Animal Tracks and Signs' hike at Mesa Verde

Learn how to discover what animals are out and about during the winter months at Mesa Verde National Park during the "Animal Tracks and Signs" hike at Morefield Campground from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 26. Hikers will learn how to look for and identify animal tracks and signs, and then explore the hillsides around Morefield Campground. Past animal tracks in the snow observed in the area include weasels, rabbits, mountain lions, mice, and coyotes. The hike is limited to 20 people, ages 7 to adult. Meet at the Morefield Village parking lot at Morefield Campground, 4 miles from the park entrance. Advance reservations are required; for reservations contact Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum at MVNP at 529-4631 or meve_education@nps.gov.

Preventive Medical Care lecture

Jill Schenk, MD, will give a free lecture about preventive medical care on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the conference room at Southwest Memorial Physicians, 20 S. Market St. in Cortez. Find out the latest on how often you need pap smears, mammograms, cholesterol checks, bone density studies, and PSAs, as well as what Medicare now covers for preventive services. No RSVP is necessary and light refreshments will be served. Call 565-4291 for more information.

'Safe and Effective Strategies for Cleansing and Detox'

Amy Loschert, Naturopathic Doctor, will present "Cleansing and Flushing: Safe and Effective Strategies for Cleansing and Detoxification" at the T.O.N.I. (Toxins Out, Nutrients In) share session on Friday, Feb. 1, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Mesa/Canyon room at the Cortez Recreation Center. These sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Listen, learn and share on topics of health interest. For more information, contact Joe Keleher, TONI Coordinator, at 565-5448.

SWMH Foundation Jewelry Sale Fundraiser

The Southwest Memorial Hospital Foundation will hold a jewelry sale to raise funds for their healthcare education scholarship program on Friday, Feb. 8 from noon to 6 p.m. in the hospital lobby, 1311 N. Mildred Road in Cortez. Vintage and gently used good-quality costume jewelry that has been donated by community members will be available for sale. Don't miss this opportunity to support the SWMH Foundation by buying a Valentine's Day gift or something nice for yourself. Donations for this event are still being accepted. Contact Susan Thomas at 739-3158 for more information about the sale or to donate jewelry.

Incredible Years parenting classes

The Pinon Project will offer a series of free parenting classes beginning Tuesday, Feb. 12, and lasting 14 weeks. The Incredible Years is a curriculum targeting parents of children 2 to 8 years of age and is proven effective. If you are looking for more effective ways to discipline and want to build a more positive relationship with your child, this is the program for you. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm St. Dinner and childcare are provided. To register, please contact Lara Blair at 564-1195. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

Community calendar

Email announcements to news@cortezjournal.com and include “Community Calendar” in the subject field. Items submitted less than two weeks in advance will be less likely to be published. Entries and the calendar may be edited for length and content.

Monday, March 30

SouthWest Colorado Concerts presents Quartetto Gelato at M-CHS at 7 p.m. This Canadian quartet is known for clever programming and humor and...